The White House Press Secretary declined to Friday Israel and Saudi Arabia are “important allies” of the United States. After a back-and-forth with reporters during the daily White House briefing about President Biden’s failure so far to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked: “Can you please just give a broad sense of what the administration is trying to achieve in the Middle East?

A fuel tanker exploded Saturday at the Islam Qala crossing in Afghanistan’s western Herat province on the Iranian border, injuring at least seven people and causing a massive fire that consumed more than 500 trucks carrying natural gas and fuel, according to Afghan officials and Iranian state media. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the blast. Wahid Qatali, Herat’s provincial governor, said Afghan first responders did not have the means to put out the huge fire and had requested support from Iran in the form of firefighting aircraft. “For the time being, we can’t even talk about the casualties,” Qatali told The Associated Press.

Project X is back! The newest album in the “Project X” series features Eli Marcus, Ari Hill and 35 dance songs, including many current hits and several classics. Produced by the legendary Yochi Briskman, the Jeish music producer who brought the Jewish world more than 100 hit albums over the decades. Music arranged by the super talented Yehuda Glili, bringing the album a refreshing new twist and style in music. This is guaranteed to be played in every Jewish home this coming Purim! Get it now to bring in Chodesh Adar the right way – Besimcha! Available wherever Jewish music is sold! (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The top US infectious diseases expert said Thursday that “open season” for Covid-19 vaccination could begin in April, and that the country may be able to vaccinate the majority of Americans by the middle or end of summer. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told NBC’s Savannah Guthrie on the Today show that he thought the pace of vaccination was going to pick up going into March and April. “The number of available doses will allow for much more of a mass vaccination approach, which is really much more accelerated than what you’re seeing now,” he said.

Two NYPD horses were seen running wild through the streets of Flatbush on Thursday. It happened when an NYPD Officer had a medical issue at the corner of Quentin Road and East 8th Street. Flatbush Hatzolah was called to the scene and was treating him, while another officer who was riding a second horse was holding both horses. Suddenly, something spooked the horses, prompting them both to gallop away at full speed. After a brief pursuit by NYPD, both horses were apprehended. The officer was transported by Flatbush Hatzolah to the hospital in stable condition. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Chilling security video of last month’s deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, including of rioters searching menacingly for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence, has become a key exhibit in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as lawmakers prosecuting the case wrap up their opening arguments for why Trump should be convicted of inciting the siege. The House will continue with its case Thursday, with Trump’s lawyers set to launch their defense by week’s end. The footage shown at trial, much of it never before seen, has included video of the mob smashing into the building, distraught members of Congress receiving comfort, rioters engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police and audio of Capitol police officers pleading for back-up.

Hundreds of Jewish children and teens from Jewish communities throughout the Ukraine gathered together this past Shabbos in Medzhybizh for Shabbos Parshas Yisro, “Shabbos Kabbalas HaTorah,” B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. In an emotional event, after a prolonged period of time when gatherings and brissos couldn’t be performed due to coronavirus regulations, ten Jewish youth entered into the bris of Avraham Avinu before Shabbos. The mohel was Reb Aharon Weiss of Monroe, a specialist in adult brissos. The emotional event was recorded by B’Chadrei Chareidim photographer Yishai Yerushalmi. On Friday night, there was great emotion as the newly circumcised children chose Jewish names for themselves.

The second day of former President Trump’s impeachment trial has begun in the Senate. The House impeachment managers will be front and center today, as they look to convince skeptical Republican senators that Trump was responsible for the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Today’s schedule: The managers will have up to 8 hours to make their case today. They are expected to show never-before-seen Capitol security footage during their presentation to demonstrate the extent of the violence that occurred and the threat the rioters posed to everyone in the Capitol. The managers’ role: The select group of House Democrats known as impeachment managers will act as prosecutors and were selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Chana Arush, a secular “kibbutznik,” was sitting by her father’s bedside in Sheba Hospital in Tel HaShomer when Chareidi volunteers came to carry out the mitzvah of bikur cholim. “I want all of Am Yisrael to see what Chareidim do” Chana said in a video posted on social media. “Come see what they do. Look at this – chessed shel Emes.” The bochurim, volunteers for the Hakol Me’HaLev organization of Rav Meir Bloch, did their best to cheer up her father, who suffered a severe stroke. יש בנו אהבה והיא תנצח❤️

Some 600 Charedim blocked the intersection of Bar Ilan and Yirmiyahu Streets in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening in protest of the arrests of Chareidim who were in violation of the Coronavirus regulations. The Chareidi protesters, mainly members of the Eidah Chareidis were expressing their outrage over what they consider to be religious persecution. The protesters lit dumpsters on fire and slid them onto the roadway blocking traffic and access to the area. They fought with police officers who attempted to clear them from the roadway and allow the traffic to flow through the intersection. The Police Special Patrol Unit and mounted unit attempted to control the throng of angry protesters and used water cannons to disperse the crowd.